Brewarrina - NSW

Information

Brewarrina is great destination to experience indigenous cultural significance in that it was one of the major inter-tribal meeting places within the Murray-Darling Basin.

Here you will see the fish traps, known in the Aboriginal language as Ngunnhu, that are purpose built rock structures forming a network of mazes that enabled the corralling and catching of fish. It is understood that the traps sustained several thousand Aboriginal people during tribal gatherings held prior to European settlement.

Estimated to have existed for over 40,000 years, the traps are believed to be the oldest man-made structure on earth. The system that exists today is a restoration as much of what existed at the time of European settlement was unfortunately removed in order for the early river boats to travel further upstream.

Brewarrina was settled by Europeans in the 1840s who, by the 1860s, recognised it as the furthest point up the River for steamboats. As such it became an important port for settlers wishing to ship their wool to the coast.

Today Brewarrina is quiet and peaceful with some particularly attractive and historic buildings including Christ Church and the excellent suspension bridge

The fish traps provide the visitor with an insight to way the water ways were managed by the indigenous Australians of the area. This connectivity to the river and the land is continued down the Darling River in different ways, in different 'countries', by different groups.